Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown today at Retromobile in Paris. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be hand-built at Jaguar Classic Works, completing the 100 D-Types originally planned for production in 1955. The question that must be asked however, is whether Jaguar is sacrificing the resale value of the cars owned by its greatest fans for the sake of short term profit.

The D-type won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race three years in a row from 1955 to 1957, and is one of the most desirable cars ever to be built, so it makes sense that Jaguar Classic Works in Warwickshire should fulfill the factory's original ambition by creating 25 identical authentic models. Buyers will be able to choose between a 1955 short-nose D-Type and a 1956 long-nose bodywork version, and although pricing has not yet been announced, when Jaguar built nine XKSS models last year, it charged customers £1,000,000 apiece, with some of the customers getting their order in before the Brexit referendum and some afterwards, varying the price between US$1.3 million and $1.5 million.

The D-type is the third continuation vehicle from Jaguar Classic, complementing the six missing Lightweight E-types completed in 2014-15, which were also sold at £1,000,000 each, so it's very likely that the price for the 25 D-Types will also be in that vicinity.

As we reflected upon at the time, the approximately $1.4 million price tag of the XKSS was bound to have an effect on the price of the similar original cars at market, and though the XKSS was first shown at Retromobile in 2017, its American debut happened to coincide with the first XKSS Jaguar to reach public auction in a decade.

It was the 16th most valuable car sold in the world in 2005 and in retrospect, it was no surprise that with nine continuation models hitting the market for $1 million each at the same time in March, 2017, that the 1957 Jaguar XKSS for sale in Amelia Island might not fetch $13 million. It didn't, being passed in.

The first was auctioned in Melbourne, Australia, at Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction. Motorclassica is Australia's equivalent to France's Retromobile or Germany's Techno-Classica. The D-Type auctioned was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 model and it had an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.

The next D-Type was the 1956 Jaguar D-Type, formerly the property of Peter Blond, Jean Bloxham and Bernie Ecclestone, also with an extensive period racing history in the United Kingdom. It was estimated to sell for between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000 at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale 2018 auction. It received a high bid of $8.85 million, falling $2.15 million short of its lower estimate. The car is still available by negotiation.

Also during 2018 Scottsdale car week, a 1954 Jaguar Works D-Type went to auction at RM-Sotheby's receiving a high bid of $9.8 million, but fell $2.2 million short of the reserve price. Its provenance was spectacular, being the principal team car driven by Sir Sterling Moss at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans and with a history that included being raced by six Le Mans winning drivers. It was being sold complete with all the documentation but failed to meet reserve.

Hence with 25 continuation D-Types heading into enthusiast hands at £1,000,000 each over the coming 12-18 months, the marketplace for D-Type Jags cannot be expected to be any stronger over the next few years than it has in the last year.

While we laud the move by Jaguar Land Rover Classic to begin making beautifully-crafted authentic Jaguars, Land Rovers and Range Rovers available to an appreciative public, the prices of classic cars at auction is subject to the fundamental laws of supply and demand.

The classic car marketplace is based on a known number of classic cars being available, and changing the supply will clearly sate the delicately balanced demand, and influence the price.

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown at Retromobile in Paris from February 7-11, 2018. Just 25 new examples of the D-type will be built, with a price expected to be in the vicinity of £1,000,000 each(Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car spent the previous two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections prior to its sale by RM-Sothebys at Monterey, 2016 <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">where it sold for $21,780,000 to become the most valuable British car ever to sell at auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car spent the previous two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections prior to its sale by RM-Sothebys at Monterey, 2016 <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">where it sold for $21,780,000 to become the most valuable British car ever to sell at auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car spent the previous two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections prior to its sale by RM-Sothebys at Monterey, 2016 <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">where it sold for $21,780,000 to become the most valuable British car ever to sell at auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car spent the previous two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections prior to its sale by RM-Sothebys at Monterey, 2016 <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">where it sold for $21,780,000 to become the most valuable British car ever to sell at auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car spent the previous two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections prior to its sale by RM-Sothebys at Monterey, 2016 <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">where it sold for $21,780,000 to become the most valuable British car ever to sell at auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

The "first off the production line," ex-Al Browne/Lou Brero Sr and Moores Collection, <a href="https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16248/lot/523/" rel="nofollow">1955 3.4-Liter Jaguar D-Type sold for £ 2,201,500 at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on July 11, 2008</a>(Credit: Jaguar Classic)

This 1956 Jaguar D-Type, formerly the property of Peter Blond and Jean Bloxham, and with an extensive period racing history in the United Kingdom, was estimated to sell for between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000 at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale 2018 auction. It had a high bid of $8.85 million, falling $2.15 million short of its lower estimate. The car <a href="https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1956-jaguar-d-type-2/" rel="nofollow">is still available by negotiation</a>.(Credit: Gooding & Company)

<a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/AZ18/Arizona/lots/r187-1954-jaguar-d-type-works/574559" rel="nofollow">This 1954 Jaguar Works D-Type went to auction at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale 2018 auction</a>, receiving a high bid of $9.8 million. The factory D-Type received the highest bid of the week at $9.8 million, but fell $2.2 million short of the reserve price. Its provenance is spectacular, being the principal team car driven by Moss and Walker at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans and having been raced by six Le Mans winning drivers. It was being sold complete with all the documentation but failed to meet reserve.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

This 1956 Jaguar D-Type, formerly the property of Peter Blond and Jean Bloxham, and with an extensive period racing history in the United Kingdom, was estimated to sell for between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000 at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale 2018 auction. It had a high bid of $8.85 million, falling $2.15 million short of its lower estimate. The car <a href="https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1956-jaguar-d-type-2/" rel="nofollow">is still available by negotiation</a>.(Credit: Gooding & Company)

The star car at <a href="http://mossgreenmotoring.com.au/2017/motorclassica/d-type/index.html" rel="nofollow">Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction in Australia was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 Jaguar D-type</a> with an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.(Credit: Mike Hanlon/New Atlas)

The star car at <a href="http://mossgreenmotoring.com.au/2017/motorclassica/d-type/index.html" rel="nofollow">Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction in Australia was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 Jaguar D-type</a> with an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.(Credit: Mike Hanlon/New Atlas)

The star car at <a href="http://mossgreenmotoring.com.au/2017/motorclassica/d-type/index.html" rel="nofollow">Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction in Australia was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 Jaguar D-type</a> with an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.(Credit: Mike Hanlon/New Atlas)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car has spent the last two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections. The 1955 Jaguar D-Type <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">sold for $21,780,000 at RM-Sotheby’s 2016 Monterey auction</a>.(Credit: RM-Sothebys)

The star car at <a href="http://mossgreenmotoring.com.au/2017/motorclassica/d-type/index.html" rel="nofollow">Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction in Australia was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 Jaguar D-type</a> with an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.(Credit: Mossgreen)

The star car at <a href="http://mossgreenmotoring.com.au/2017/motorclassica/d-type/index.html" rel="nofollow">Mossgreen's official Motorclassica auction in Australia was the Ex-Duncan Hamilton, Gerry Ashmore, Bib Stillwell 1955 Jaguar D-type</a> with an extensive racing history. The car had an estimate of AUD 7 to 8 million but could only muster a high bid of AUD 5.5 million (US$4.35 million) and it did not bring the hammer down.(Credit: Mossgreen)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/LF13/London/lots/r141-1955-jaguar-d-type/294066" rel="nofollow">1955 Jaguar D-Type from the Laidlaw Competition Car Collection</a> was estimated to sell for between £5,500,000 and £6,500,000 at RM - Sotheby's London 2013 auction but did not meet reserve(Credit: Tim Scott / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/LF13/London/lots/r141-1955-jaguar-d-type/294066" rel="nofollow">1955 Jaguar D-Type from the Laidlaw Competition Car Collection</a> was estimated to sell for between £5,500,000 and £6,500,000 at RM - Sotheby's London 2013 auction but did not meet reserve(Credit: Tim Scott / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/LF13/London/lots/r141-1955-jaguar-d-type/294066" rel="nofollow">1955 Jaguar D-Type from the Laidlaw Competition Car Collection</a> was estimated to sell for between £5,500,000 and £6,500,000 at RM - Sotheby's London 2013 auction but did not meet reserve(Credit: Tim Scott / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/LF13/London/lots/r141-1955-jaguar-d-type/294066" rel="nofollow">1955 Jaguar D-Type from the Laidlaw Competition Car Collection</a> was estimated to sell for between £5,500,000 and £6,500,000 at RM - Sotheby's London 2013 auction but did not meet reserve(Credit: Tim Scott / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/PA14/Paris/lots/r106-1955-jaguar-d-type/180950" rel="nofollow">highly original 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for €3,696,000 at RM-Sotheby's 2014 Paris auction</a>. It was the seventh customer D-Type produced and was delivered new to and raced by four-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Bib Stillwell.(Credit: Simon Clay / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/PA14/Paris/lots/r106-1955-jaguar-d-type/180950" rel="nofollow">highly original 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for €3,696,000 at RM-Sotheby's 2014 Paris auction</a>. It was the seventh customer D-Type produced and was delivered new to and raced by four-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Bib Stillwell.(Credit: Simon Clay / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/PA14/Paris/lots/r106-1955-jaguar-d-type/180950" rel="nofollow">highly original 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for €3,696,000 at RM-Sotheby's 2014 Paris auction</a>. It was the seventh customer D-Type produced and was delivered new to and raced by four-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Bib Stillwell.(Credit: Simon Clay / RM-Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/PA14/Paris/lots/r106-1955-jaguar-d-type/180950" rel="nofollow">highly original 1955 Jaguar D-Type sold for €3,696,000 at RM-Sotheby's 2014 Paris auction</a>. It was the seventh customer D-Type produced and was delivered new to and raced by four-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Bib Stillwell.(Credit: Simon Clay / RM-Sotheby's)

One of only 16 ever built, <a href="https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1957-jaguar-xkss/" rel="nofollow">this 1957 Jaguar XKSS went to auction with Gooding & Company at Amelia Island in March, 2017</a>, the first XKSS to go to auction for a decade. Originally estimated at $16,000,000 to $18,000,000, the estimate was revised prior to auction to between $13,000,000 and $16,000,000, but the XKSS attracted a high bid of just $11.9 million and failed to sell.(Credit: Gooding & Company)

<a href="http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1957-jaguar-xk-ss-roadster/" rel="nofollow">The last XKSS to sell publicly fetched $1,925,000 at Pebble Beach in 2005</a>, selling with a spectacular provenance that included many successful in-period race starts in the hands of Dr Dick Thompson, "the flying dentist."(Credit: Gooding & Company)

The best known XKSS re-creation specialist is <a href="http://www.lynxmotors.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Lynx</a>, and <a href="https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21907/lot/244/" rel="nofollow">an XKSS built by Lynx in 1967 sold for £384,540 (US$625,146)</a> at Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale in 2014. The car (pictured above) had a spectacular provenance, being commissioned by well-known Jaguar collector Dick Skipworth in 1988 and built to a high specification, and was sold with a fully documented five-owner history that included actor Nicholas Cage, from 2008 to 2011.(Credit: Bonhams)

This 1955 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_D-Type" rel="nofollow">Jaguar D-Type</a> (chassis no. XKD 501) was the first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a non-factory team, the famous Scottish Racing team, <a href="http://www.ecurieecosse.com/" rel="nofollow">Ecurie Ecosse</a>, which used it to win the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans" rel="nofollow">1956 24 Hours of Le Mans</a> with drivers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Flockhart_(auto_racing)" rel="nofollow">Ron Flockhart</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninian_Sanderson" rel="nofollow">Ninian Sanderson</a>. The car has spent the last two decades in one of America's leading automotive collections. The 1955 Jaguar D-Type <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO16/Monterey/lots/r190-1955-jaguar-d-type/379829" rel="nofollow">sold for $21,780,000 at RM-Sotheby’s 2016 Monterey auction</a>.(Credit: Somer Hooker/New Atlas)

The Jaguar XKSS continuation model

After finishing second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at its first outing, the D-Type then won three years running

The Jaguar XKSS continuation model

Jaguar's XKSS attracted an all-star following, of which Steve McQueen was the best known. Based on the D-Type which won Le Mans three years running, it was the 50s sports car with muchos cred.

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO15/Monterey/lots/r212-1953-jaguar-c-type-works-lightweight/180598" rel="nofollow">1953 Works Lightweight Jaguar C-Type sold for $13,200,000</a> at RM-Sotheby's Monterey 2015 auction. The second of only three works lightweights ever built, it finished fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953.(Credit: Patrick Ernzen / RM-Sothebys)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO15/Monterey/lots/r212-1953-jaguar-c-type-works-lightweight/180598" rel="nofollow">1953 Works Lightweight Jaguar C-Type sold for $13,200,000</a> at RM-Sotheby's Monterey 2015 auction. The second of only three works lightweights ever built, it finished fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953.(Credit: Patrick Ernzen / RM-Sothebys)

This <a href="https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MO15/Monterey/lots/r212-1953-jaguar-c-type-works-lightweight/180598" rel="nofollow">1953 Works Lightweight Jaguar C-Type sold for $13,200,000</a> at RM-Sotheby's Monterey 2015 auction. The second of only three works lightweights ever built, it finished fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953.(Credit: Patrick Ernzen / RM-Sothebys)

This <a href="https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/NY17/New-York---ICONS/lots/r030-1952-jaguar-c-type/563553" rel="nofollow">1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for $5,285,000 at RM-Sotheby's New York Icons sale</a> in December, 2017. One of 53 units built, it was the first C-Type to be imported to the United States, and the first to win a race in the United States, being raced by the legendary Phil Hill(Credit: Ryan Merrill / RM Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/NY17/New-York---ICONS/lots/r030-1952-jaguar-c-type/563553" rel="nofollow">1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for $5,285,000 at RM-Sotheby's New York Icons sale</a> in December, 2017. One of 53 units built, it was the first C-Type to be imported to the United States, and the first to win a race in the United States, being raced by the legendary Phil Hill(Credit: Ryan Merrill / RM Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/NY17/New-York---ICONS/lots/r030-1952-jaguar-c-type/563553" rel="nofollow">1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for $5,285,000 at RM-Sotheby's New York Icons sale</a> in December, 2017. One of 53 units built, it was the first C-Type to be imported to the United States, and the first to win a race in the United States, being raced by the legendary Phil Hill(Credit: Ryan Merrill / RM Sotheby's)

This <a href="https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/NY17/New-York---ICONS/lots/r030-1952-jaguar-c-type/563553" rel="nofollow">1952 Jaguar C-Type sold for $5,285,000 at RM-Sotheby's New York Icons sale</a> in December, 2017. One of 53 units built, it was the first C-Type to be imported to the United States, and the first to win a race in the United States, being raced by the legendary Phil Hill. Hill is pictured in this car (XKC 007), racing towards the very first victory for the C-Type in America at Elkhart Lake.(Credit: Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Archive / RM-Sothebys)

This <a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23591/lot/114/" rel="nofollow">1953 Jaguar XK120C C-Type</a> was ex-Ecurie Francorchamps, Roger Laurent, Baron Charles de Tornaco, Jacques Swaters, Olivier Gendebien . It had competed in the 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour, Spa 24-Hours and ADAC 1,000-Kilometers race in period and was considered one of the most original C-Types extant.(Credit: Bonhams)

This <a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23591/lot/114/" rel="nofollow">1953 Jaguar XK120C C-Type</a> was ex-Ecurie Francorchamps, Roger Laurent, Baron Charles de Tornaco, Jacques Swaters, Olivier Gendebien . It had competed in the 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour, Spa 24-Hours and ADAC 1,000-Kilometers race in period and was considered one of the most original C-Types extant.(Credit: Bonhams)

This <a href="http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23591/lot/114/" rel="nofollow">1953 Jaguar XK120C C-Type</a> was ex-Ecurie Francorchamps, Roger Laurent, Baron Charles de Tornaco, Jacques Swaters, Olivier Gendebien . It had competed in the 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour, Spa 24-Hours and ADAC 1,000-Kilometers race in period and was considered one of the most original C-Types extant.(Credit: Bonhams)

One of only 16 ever built, <a href="https://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1957-jaguar-xkss/" rel="nofollow">this 1957 Jaguar XKSS went to auction with Gooding & Company at Amelia Island in March, 2017</a>, the first XKSS to go to auction for a decade. Originally estimated at $16,000,000 to $18,000,000, the estimate was revised prior to auction to between $13,000,000 and $16,000,000, but the XKSS attracted a high bid of just $11.9 million and failed to sell.(Credit: Gooding & Company)

Since the Jaguar XKSS continuation models were announced, an XKSS and three D-Type Jaguars have failed to sell at auction. Could Jaguar be ruining the auction market for its biggest fans?